Bridge replacement project along Route 2 entering next phase

Road construction along Route 2 could be easing up as crews say they will soon be entering phase two of a bridge replacement project.

BROOKE, OHIO COUNTIES, W. Va. —

Road construction along Route 2 could be easing up as crews say they will soon be entering phase two of a bridge replacement project.

The bridge is located along Short Creek, and has been affecting drivers for months.

What was once a three-lane road across the bridge has now been condensed into a single lane, causing a headache for drivers.

Ohio-West Virginia Excavating is the contractor for the project, and they have been working to replace the bridge one portion at a time.

"Phase one was to set up traffic signals and get people on the west side of the bridge so that the contractor could actually demo the east side of the bridge,” said Jay Wallace, area construction engineer.

This first phase is nearly complete, but the contractor still has one more important job before moving on.

"We're working on the approach slabs and once we get that done -- in about eight weeks -- we'll be switching traffic over to phase two: utilizing the new bridge,” Wallace said.

Phase two will allow traffic to travel in two lanes while crews work on the west side of the bridge.

The good news is there will be no more traffic lights, so drivers will experience an easier and quicker commute.

The end goal is to have a total of four lanes traveling across the bridge. In the meantime, crews are facing one challenge in particular.

“Just a little bit of weather,” Wallace said. “With the colder temperatures and the rain, it’s kind of slowed things up a little bit."